to make somebody/something suffer something unpleasantinflict something on/upon somebody/somethingThey inflicted a humiliating defeat on the home team.Heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy.(humorous)Do you have to inflict that music on us?inflict somethingThey surveyed the damage inflicted by the storm.The rodent’s sharp teeth can inflict a nasty bite.When someone deliberately inflicts damage, it is a matter for the police.Word Originmid 16th cent. (in the sense ‘afflict, trouble’): from Latininflict-